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Live Cannabis Legalization Coverage & Results: Election 2016

3:34 p.m. — Drug war tropes still guide Mass. cannabis opponents

BOSTON — As voters headed to the polls here today, there was a palpable sense of this one’s gonna be tight—for both supporters and opponents of cannabis legalization.

After walking through Boston’s South End and Back Bay neighborhoods, and popping in on a half dozen polling places, I can report that lines seemed to move quickly and there were hardly any visible signs of strife. Most of the ballot placards I saw dealt with the charter school question, but the Yes-on-4 presence was visible on telephone poles and cast iron fences near numerous polling stations.

At the Boston Public Library, streams of voters filed in and out while Jeff Galen and his son held up signs pumping for Trump. A Back Bay resident who works on Wall Street, Galen was all in for the Donald, but not so much for cannabis.

“I voted against Question 4,” he said. His reason? Galen believes in the gateway drug theory. “There’s not one person that’s a heroin addict today that didn’t first at some point try pot,” he told me. “So, I’m firmly in the camp of those guys who think it’s a gateway drug.” He went on to cite his fear that a flood of “pot shops” could wreak havoc on the Commonwealth.

“So for those reasons, as they say on Shark Tank, ‘I’m out’,” he said. —Dan McCarthy

RELATED STORY

U.S. Attorney General Says Cannabis Is Not a Gateway Drug

3:29 p.m. — In Florida, old prejudices die hard

ORLANDO — If you believe in omens, the fact that I woke at dawn to see a knee-high bobcat stalking across my hotel grounds may portend a bright future for supporters of Florida’s Amendment 2. But if you look to the reality on the ground, things look a little less rosy. Upon learning that I was in town to cover the medical marijuana ballot measure, for instance, the receptionist at my Orlando hotel made me sign a non-smoking waiver and leave a $50 deposit—and then refused to let me use the printer. Old prejudices die hard.

If you look only at the yard signs, this is serious Trump country. Trump/Pence signs and slogans dominate Space Coast lawns and business marquees. In coastal Brevard County, I passed an open precinct that looked festive but deserted. There are reports of Trump voters waving Trump—and Confederate—flags near Sunshine State polling sites, which strikes me as sad but unsurprising.

RELATED STORY

Florida Legalization: Seeking 60 Percent in the Sunshine State

3:22 p.m. — Maine election officials predict record turnout

PORTLAND, Me. — Huge numbers of Mainers are flocking to the polls during a day of clear blue skies and unseasonably warm temperatures. Voters have a very crowded ballot to consider, with adult-use cannabis legalization, Question 1, at the top of the list. Mainers are also voting on citizen initiatives to raise the minimum wage, expand background checks for gun purchases, and to change the election process by instituting ranked-choice voting. Election officials are predicting a record turnout, expecting 65 percent of voting-aged Mainers to cast ballots. Some polling places are reporting hourlong waits before entering the voting booth, due to large numbers of people registering to vote for the first time. —Crash Barry

3:10 p.m. — Long lines reported at some polling places

Voting closes in Florida in less than an hour. On the West Coast, we’ve got a bit more time. But don’t delay—observers are reporting long lines at some polling places that could mean delays for voters. Campaigns, meanwhile, are urging supporters to remain at the polls despite long lines. Remember: If you’re in line by the time polls close, you are allowed to cast a ballot. Most states have laws on the books to that effect.

If someone stops you from voting and you were in line before the polls closed, call the Department of Justice Civil Rights Department at 1-800-253-3931 or email them at voting.section@nullusdoj.gov. You can also submit an election complaint report on the DOJ website. —Ben Adlin

3:02 p.m. — Cannabis media are chomping at the bit for exit poll info

Wondering where the exit poll data can be found? So are we. While networks aren’t conducting exit polls in every state this year—including four with cannabis measures on the ballot—all of us are looking frantically for exit polls that give some indication of how things are shaping up. Don’t worry, we’ll keep you posted as information comes in.

2:35 p.m. — California voters see long, complicated process ahead if Prop. 64 passes

SAN FRANCISCO — Many voters here seem conscious of the fact that Prop. 64 is simply a step in the process, and that passage—assuming it happens—will answer some questions but raise many more.

San Franciscan Wayne Woods (Paul Roberts for Leafly)San Franciscan Wade Woods (Paul Roberts for Leafly)

“After it becomes legal—that’s when the real fight begins,” declares Wade Woods, a 70-year-old San Franciscan who has worked on numerous political campaigns. “Where are you going to sell it? Do you just limit it to the poor neighborhoods? Do you spread it around? There’s this false dichotomy that all weed smokers are poor—but if you live in an upscale neighborhood, are you going to want all these weed smokers coming through? And what about the business-side? What about all the new products? The edibles. Can anyone make those? Do you and me make some weed peanut butter and get us a distributorship?” —Paul Roberts

2:26 p.m. — A quick reminder: Legalization doesn’t increase teen consumption

Concerns over whether legalization would increase cannabis consumption by minors have been front and center in opponents’ arguments against legal cannabis. We here at Leafly have wondered about that, too. Luckily, there’s good news: The indications we’ve seen—and there have been a few—suggest teen consumption tends to stay roughly the same or even decrease after a state transitions to legal, regulated markets. —Ben Adlin

RELATED STORY

Here’s Why Cannabis Legalization Doesn’t Lead to Higher Teen Use Rates

2:17 p.m. — Friends stuck in line at the polls? Buy ‘em a pizza!

Because that’s now a thing, apparently. —Ben Adlin

2:01 p.m. — Turnout around left-leaning Orlando already higher than 2012

Tom Bonier, CEO of Target Smart, a DC-based political data website, is reporting that Orange County, Fla. (which encompasses Orlando), has already reported 45,000 more ballots cast than all of 2012—and that was with more than three hours of voting left. The county has historically leaned to the left; Obama won by 18 percent in 2012. Does this mean good news for Amendment 2 supporters in the state? Possibly. The county went for medical marijuana legalization in 2014, 59 percent to 41 percent. Then again, Florida’s Amendment 2 needs 60 percent voter approval to win. So a boosted vote total in Orange County may or may not do the legalization measure much good. —Gage Peake

1:53 p.m. — Denver could vote to allow social consumption

DENVER — The big question the Mile High City faces in 2016 is Question 300, a citywide ballot measure that would create a Public Consumption Use Pilot Program. In other words: legalized social use. Question 300 would allow businesses (bars, cafes, yoga studios, art studios) to apply for a city permit to allow bring-your-own cannabis, and create indoor and/or outdoor consumption areas for adults 21 and older.

Entrepreneur, cannabis advocate, and dispensary owner Kayvan Khalatbari is one of the creators of Question 300. He told Leafly he wishes the Yes on 300 movement had more time to educate the public. “I’m an eternal pessimist when it comes to elections, especially in cannabis.” Khalatbari said. “To be honest, I didn’t think Amendment 64 was going to pass [in 2012] and then it surprised me. My hesitation on I-300 passing is because this topic is so darn new, I don’t think people had enough time to fully absorb the information and proposed reality. I believe there is still a lot of misinformation floating around about what it will actually mean for Denver. I think if people actually knew and we started this campaign in the spring as opposed to late summer, we could have had that educational impact.”

Denver Relief co-owner Kayvan Khalatbari, right, talks with his employee Jeff Botkin at his shop in Denver. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, File)Denver Relief co-owner Kayvan Khalatbari, right, talks with his employee Jeff Botkin at his shop in Denver. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, File)

Part of Khalatbari’s doubt rises from his fear that young voters won’t turn out in the numbers that Question 300 needs in order to pass. “I also worry about the presidential candidates available to us this year disenfranchising younger people from this voting process. Those are folks that are pretty on board with social use cannabis, but if they aren’t voting it won’t matter.” The Yes on 300 team hosts an election watch party at the longtime Lower Denver bar El Charrito tonight beginning at 7 p.m. —Lindsey Bartlett

RELATED STORY

Where Can I Smoke Legally in a Legal State?

1:49 p.m. — How are things looking? What will pass?

Polls have yet to close in any state so far (see our post from 10:36 a.m. for hours), but the latest survey results give us an indication of which legalization measures have the best chance of passage.

“Failure to pass the legalization proposal in California would be the only truly surprising outcome among all five state legalization measures.”

Christopher Ingraham, Washington Post

Leafly has been tracking surveys throughout the election season, updating our predictions as the data change. In a nutshell: Things were looking good as we went into Election Day, but the outlook for most measures is still uncertain. You can see deputy editor Bruce Barcott’s picks here.

In terms of adult-use, California looks almost sure to pass. “Support has been so consistent,” writes the Washington Post’s Christopher Ingraham, “that a failure to pass the legalization proposal in California would be the only truly surprising outcome among all five state legalization measures.” Massachusetts and Nevada are also trending toward yes, as is Maine—barely.

As for medical marijuana measures, Florida looks promising. All other states considering the issue—Arkansas, Montana, and North Dakota—have much longer odds. —Ben Adlin

1:34 p.m. — Mainstream media needs to elevate the conversation

We haven’t been shy about calling out media outlets, especially those on the East Coast, for mishandling or misrepresenting cannabis issues. It looks like we’re not alone. The Brookings Institute’s John Hudak, a top cannabis policy wonk, rolled his eyes at CNN’s discussion of state legalization measures. —Ben Adlin

1:23 p.m. — Exit polls will skip Massachusetts, Arkansas, Montana, North Dakota

The consortium of news networks that commissions election exit polls will skip 28 states today, including four states with cannabis measures on the ballot. Massachusetts, Arkansas, Montana, and North Dakota will not be surveyed, according to Politico, as news networks focus instead on larger and more competitive states.

That means we’ll have to wait until those states start reporting official results. That usually occurs shortly after the polls close, though some states, like Arkansas, have said the first results may not be available until closer to an hour after voting ends. —Ben Adlin

12:14 p.m. — Mild East Coast weather encourages voter turnout

Boston’s funky oasis of Jamaica Plain is seeing long lines and a number of No-on-2 campaign signs at polling places, Metro Boston‘s Kristin Toussaint reports. Here’s the scene outside the John F. Kennedy school:

Up in Maine, Leafly correspondant Crash Barry says the weather is unseasonably warm—a good sign for voters heading to polling places. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused chaos in the final week of the election by threatening to close polling places. No problems are expected this year: Highs in Maine should hit the 50s, which is slightly above normal.

11:16 a.m. — Prop. 64 isn’t the only cannabis vote on California’s ballot

SAN FRANCISCO—For all the attention it’s getting, the drama around Prop. 64 isn’t the only cannabis-related story on the California ballot today. As we’ve seen in Colorado, Washington, and other cannabis-friendly states, translating a yes vote into a workable, practical system takes a lot of effort. In the coming months, Prop. 64 will need to be rendered into specific regulations and procedures by state agencies and legislators and, especially, cities and counties. And even though though a majority of Californians support legalization, plenty of Californians still oppose it—and many of those opponents are in positions of power, whether in local office, the state Legislature, or Congress. These players can influence how legalization is rolled out, and even whether it’s rolled out. In many cities and counties, opponents are running ballot initiatives that would restrict or even ban adult-use cannabis. So while the Prop. 64 race is front-and-center here today, we’ll also be following a number of other campaigns—everything from the Democrats’ efforts to oust avowed cannabis opponent US Rep. Darrell Issa to a nasty cannabis-infused battle on the Oakland City Council to several local ballot initiatives to ban cannabis production or sale. —Paul Roberts

RELATED STORY

These California Politicians are Emerging as Strong Prop. 64 Supporters

10:36 a.m. — What times do the polls close?

As eager as you might be to grab a bowl of popcorn (or anything else) and watch election results stream in, it’s still be several hours before polling places begin to close. Expect to see the first results coming in shortly after East Coast voting ends at 8 p.m. Eastern / 5 p.m. Pacific.

Curious about a specific state? Here’s when states with cannabis measures on the ballot close their polls (all times are local):

9:30 a.m. — Flavor Flav endorses legalization, even in states not voting on cannabis today

Oh, Flavor Flav, we only wish New York were voting to legalize today. Also, about DC: They legalized adult use in 2014, but Congress won’t really let them implement it. It’s a long story. Read about it here. —Bruce Barcott